A free theatre course opens a backstage career for Aby

A free weekend course at Lighthouse in Poole has helped Aby turn an interest in theatre into a technical apprenticeship. Within her first week, she was helping put up and take down the set for Heathers the Musical.

She joined the arts centre’s Young Technicians weekend, enjoyed it and applied for the apprenticeship. She told the BBC that the experience had made a career in the industry feel possible.

The venue’s 2026–27 Young Technicians programme shows how it teaches those practical skills: 12 Saturday sessions covering lighting, sound and stage management, with professional masterclasses and access to the work behind its pantomime.

That forthcoming course is separate from the weekend Aby attended, and its application deadline has passed. Her progress is one person’s experience, rather than evidence that every participant will find a job.

For Aby, though, the opportunity has already moved beyond watching from the audience. She is learning on real productions and says she wants to keep developing her skills.

Sources

• BBC — How hope is helping communities build for the future
• Lighthouse — Young Technicians 2026–27